Brown Sugar Maple Pumpkin Butter Bars (Print View)

Buttery crust layered with velvety pumpkin maple filling and brown sugar streusel topping.

# What You Need:

→ Crust

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Filling

05 - 1 1/4 cups pumpkin puree
06 - 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
07 - 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
10 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
11 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Streusel Topping

12 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
13 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
14 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
15 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
16 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
02 - In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or fork until crumbly. Press mixture firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan.
03 - Bake crust for 10 minutes.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together pumpkin puree, maple syrup, brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
05 - Pour filling over the pre-baked crust and spread evenly.
06 - Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter until crumbly. Sprinkle evenly over the pumpkin mixture.
07 - Bake for 30 minutes, or until the center is set and the topping is golden.
08 - Cool completely in the pan, then lift out and cut into bars.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is unreal with three distinct layers that each bring something special to every bite
  • These bars strike that perfect balance between indulgent dessert and something that feels homey and wholesome
02 -
  • Cutting these bars before they are completely cool will give you messy edges and a gooey center that falls apart
  • The pumpkin layer might look slightly underbaked when you pull it out but it continues setting as it cools
03 -
  • Room temperature eggs incorporate better into the pumpkin mixture preventing any curdling
  • Press the crust mixture firmly using the bottom of a measuring cup for an even layer that will not crumble when cut